The Nigerian Senate has approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request to remove three suspended Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) over allegations of electoral malpractice, including bribery and election manipulation.
During a plenary session on Wednesday, the Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of dismissing the electoral officials after security reports implicated one of them, Dr. Nura Ali, in a $150,000 bribery scandal. The report, presented by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, stated that Ali confessed to receiving the bribe from politicians to influence the 2023 general elections in Sokoto State.
“The Senate notes from security reports from the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services (DSS) that Dr. Nura Ali was indicted for compromising the 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections through acts of incompetence and corruption. He reportedly confessed to having received the sum of $150,000 from politicians upon investigation by the DSS,” Bamidele told the Senate.
The two other suspended commissioners affected by the decision are Hudu Yunusa-Ari of Adamawa State and Ike Uzochukwu of Abia State.
Senate Votes to Remove Suspended Electoral Officers
More than two-thirds of the Senate supported Tinubu’s request, fulfilling the constitutional requirement under Section 157(1) for the removal of electoral officials. Although the chamber was not full at the time of the debate, Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno confirmed that 94 senators, including principal and presiding officers, had signed the attendance register when the plenary began, surpassing the legal threshold.
Minority Leader Abba Moro (Benue South), who seconded the motion, argued that removing the RECs would send a strong message to public officials.
“I’m aware that this present administration has pledged to fight corruption. The termination of appointments of these officers will serve as a deterrent to others,” Moro stated.
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He further urged anti-corruption agencies to investigate and prosecute the dismissed officials to ensure accountability.
Following deliberations, Senate President God’swill Akpabio put the motion to a vote, and all senators present supported it. Akpabio then announced the Senate’s resolution, which will now be forwarded to President Tinubu for final approval.
Bribery and Election Manipulation Allegations
The allegations against the suspended electoral officers stem from reports of electoral misconduct during the 2023 elections.
- Nura Ali (Sokoto REC): Ali was suspended on March 6, 2023, over allegations of election irregularities in Sokoto State. The latest report from security agencies claims that he received a $150,000 bribe from politicians to manipulate election results.
- Hudu Yunusa-Ari (Adamawa REC): Yunusa-Ari was suspended on April 17, 2023, after he unilaterally declared Aisha Binani, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, as the winner of the Adamawa governorship election while collation was still ongoing. His action was widely condemned, and INEC swiftly nullified the announcement. He is currently facing trial at the Adamawa State High Court for unprofessional conduct.
- Ike Uzochukwu (Abia REC): Uzochukwu was suspended in March 2023 after the presidential and National Assembly elections in Abia were marred by significant logistical failures and irregularities, leading to a loss of credibility in the electoral process.
The final decision on whether to sack the suspended electoral commissioners now rests with President Tinubu. Given the weight of the allegations and the Senate’s endorsement, many expect the president to approve their removal and direct law enforcement agencies to take further action.
With Nigeria’s 2027 elections drawing closer, this move reinforces the government’s stance on electoral integrity. However, observers will be watching closely to see if the dismissed officials will face prosecution or if this will be another case of political actors avoiding full accountability.